The Edmonton Oilers actual draft list is unavailable to us, but the organization does give us 'clues' leading up to each season's entry draft. If you're really interested in knowing the players Edmonton may select this summer, a little digging could go a long way.

INTERVIEWS

During the period leading up to the draft, the Oilers will make the media rounds to talk about the draft and specific players--without tipping their hand. Recently, Stu MacGregor spoke to Jason Gregor and others about the draft, and one got the feeling that the club liked Sean Monahan and a couple of others at #7. Craig MacTavish followed that up with very specific center talk--MacKinnon, Barkov, Monahan--and excluded Swede C Elias Lindholm, indicating that they either don't consider him an option or they're running a counter trey using the media (history suggests the Oilers are in fact not considering him at #7.

COMBINE TALK

During each season's NHL combine, the Oilers interview many players (tons, really--some aren't on the combine list) in an effort to uncover every possible piece of information before the draft. They also tip their hand (and possibly send out signals to other teams) by re-stating previous items in different forms. For instance:

Craig MacTavish, late April:“We’re definitely going to look at doing something with that pick. I think we’d be very receptive to moving back and picking up another pick potentially.It’s a very deep draft in my mind. There are tons of players out there who excite me. Or possibly we could pick up somebody that could help us immediately and another pick.”

Kevin Lowe, this week:“Because the draft is deep, as you move along, if someone offered us something we felt could fit in with our group, a different age and a certain type of positional player we need, we wouldn’t be opposed to moving the pick. Maybe where teams are positioned with the [salary] cap going down, all those sorts of moons aligning could lead to something.”

This is also the period where we begin to find out about players outside the first round that the Oilers have interest in. Their website has an interview up with young defender Mason Geertsen (former Oil King, dealt for David Musil) and his interview with the team ("I spoke with 13 teams and it was kind of overwhelming when I first got here but once I got into the groove of it and a little more comfortable in the room, it went by really good. I spoke with the Oilers. It was a good meeting, it was kind of different knowing Kevin Lowe. It was more of a talk instead of a formal situation instead") and he may end up being an Oiler later on June 30th.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

Based on what we've read/heard, I think there are three possibilities for the Oilers in the first round:

Trading up for Barkov

Staying at #7 and taking Monahan or Zadorov

Dealing down to the teens and grabbing Lazar.

Ater that, I'd bet on centers and goalies for much of the draft.

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It's good to hear all these audibles prior to the draft and that all scenarios seem to be considered.

It's such an interesting draft because of it's depth, because of all the teams that don't have a 1st round draft pick (Minnesota, New York Rangers, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Boston and Pittsburgh), and because of all the teams that have multiple picks (Buffalo, Columbus, Calgary and Dallas).

I think many, if not all those teams would have interesting roster players to offer for the Oilers 1st round pick - especially defenseman or power forwards.

It sounds like Lindholm is going to stay in Europe for another year, but I'd still hate for the Oilers to pass up on him or Nichuskin for a defenseman if either of them fall to 7th.

My sense is the target is Monahan, with Lazar/Horvat the backup plan. I trust they have their best offer ready for Carolina on the draft flloor and what they need to receive to justify moving into the teens.

The two games I saw Horvat in, I thought he looked more dynamic than Lazar, but his plus/minus looks so low for a dominant team like London. I would love to see his Vollman usage chart.

I don't know how everyone feels about Nichuskin, but I suspect that some team will value his size, skill, and compete and take him third, maybe second overall.......just how many times do you see that kind of skill with that kind of size?

I don't know how everyone feels about Nichuskin, but I suspect that some team will value his size, skill, and compete and take him third, maybe second overall.......just how many times do you see that kind of skill with that kind of size?

Almost never.

Tampa Bay. My guess is Yzerman is day dreaming about the big Russian playing for the Lightning as we speak.

A report I read out of Minnesota said he's made up his mind but won't announce the team until Sunday. For some reason and this was the first I'd heard of it, he can't sign an NHL contract until Sunday?

A report I read out of Minnesota said he's made up his mind but won't announce the team until Sunday. For some reason and this was the first I'd heard of it, he can't sign an NHL contract until Sunday?

Tampa Bay. My guess is Yzerman is day dreaming about the big Russian playing for the Lightning as we speak.

from what i have seen and read, i'm almost certain T-Bay will take Nichuskin. with Jones, MacKinnon, Drouin, Barkov, Nichuskin likely to go in the top 5, it's really up to what Calgary does pick wise as to whether the Oil ends up with Monahan or not. if they pick Lindholm or Nurse, we're ok, if they pick Monahan, the Oilers would have my blessing to trade down, but not too far or guys like Horvat or Lazar or Zadorov could be gone. (like to #14, the Columbus pick, too far down, IMO).

It seems managment is sticking to their earlier statements,they are focusing on guys of the right age who can plan on spending a solid 4 or 5 years here.No stop gap measures by the look of it.This sounds funny but they sometimes use the term "man strength"and its funny because whoever came up with that little gem is likely behind this obsession with age,they want "man strength"I think,ha ha ha ha.They are looking for a higher pain threshhold and more dynamic endurance and stick-it-outedness I think.They are seeking muscle maturity and endurance,as if its predominantly age based and not conditioned in,ha ha ha.The Oilers want guys who have had their last growth spurt so they know what they are getting at face value and arent left "hoping"guys fill out.

I like the willingness to make a move with the pick for the right man and letting teams know the point he is at in his developmentel career curve is a priority,that elimminates a lot of needless discussion.A 27 year old power forward who is at least 6'2/210 or a 27 year old standup d-man who is a tower and can execute high blueline checks and recover first.Or a 27 year old goaltender who is hitting his groove and has played a system like ours --skill driven and possesion based--before so we get a true read on him.We want to match his natural skillset to our defensive zone tactics as closely as we can.If we need a puck handeler then we need to know that, if we have specific systemic influences that indicate an area we can overload then we need to do so.We dont know how we will catalyse our defensive posture systemiclly,i am betting we will require a really good mobile puck handeler with a brash attitude and some moxy.The diametric opposite of Dubnyk.Just saying.

I think if we use the pick we should look for the player with the single most dominant NHL level skill,no matter what it is as long as he is clearly dominant and at NHL speed already and has a developmentel edge.We are at the point where we can afford to seek out top end specific and dominant skills as opposed to overall skillsets as in the past,I say keep the pick and do this unless we get a cherry deal,it looks like this is the path the team has defined already.

No he is not better , nor is Nurse 6Ft. 5in.. If he was better then The Scouting Report would have ranked him above Ristolainen . They even have Zadorov above them both . Nurse ranks forth in defenceman because of consistency issues . Ristolainen spent two years in same tough league SM-Liga as Barkov did . We want someone now and that leaves Brown or Ristolainen , and I doubt we'll trade down for Brown when Ristolainen will be available . I'd be surprised and probably disappointed if we took Nurse .

sorry 6ft4! its a smaller rink. its a different game being played positionally thats why I would pick Nurse. Not every euro can make the transition and do well. thats why Nurse has the upper hand IMO. ISShockey has nurse ahead of zadorov.

I'm of the view that the ghost of the Marc Pouliot selection shouldn't stop the Oilers from trading down.

I can't say I'm enthralled with the descriptions of either Monahan or Lindholm. Horvat seems like the ideal player type the Oilers would be looking for (assuming they can't trade up to get Barkov) -- and they should be able to get Horvat somewhere in the 10th to 12th slot.

I had tickets to all of the Memorial Cup games in Saskatoon. In my limited viewing of him, Horvat seemed like a very complete player (hands, speed, smarts, size, grit, defensive responsibility, discipline, leadership) compared to the rest of the players in the tournament -- let alone his own age group.

Pouliot needed to produce offence in order to have a chance at a successful NHL career. Horvat would be a much safer pick because of his all-around game -- so I don't think the Oilers would get burned with this pick, even if Monahan and/or Lindholm turn out to be a little better.

On Oiler site for the combines they show interview with Lindholm and Ristolainen , as well as top 3 . Coincidence ? Interview with MacT. sounded as though most managers, if not all , are not going to deal draft choices .

I think the Oil would love to target a team like the Flyers at # 11! The Flyers need to shed salary & have interesting players like Voracek or Hartnell who would fit in quite nicely on the Oiler roster! Zadorov is tailor made for the FLyers way of thinking & Holmgren loves to deal!

I think the Oil would love to target a team like the Flyers at # 11! The Flyers need to shed salary & have interesting players like Voracek or Hartnell who would fit in quite nicely on the Oiler roster! Zadorov is tailor made for the FLyers way of thinking & Holmgren loves to deal!

No doubt Lazar will go the first round, he will be a really good third line RW someday.

After watching Lazar close this year I still think he benefited from being on a stacked team.

I remember telling anyone who would listen prior to the MEM cup that Horvat will turn heads, I watch the OHL a lot this year he reminds me of a better version of Horcoff, one that pays a little rougher.

Same with Monahan, although Monahan is better skilled and a little further developed the Horvat IMO.